A Roof is a Terrible Thing to Waste: 650 KiloWatt Solar Array Completed in Hawthorne, California

Lithographix, Thinksolar, and Pacific Solar EnergyThere are many green things you can do with a giant commercial building's roof. From painting it white to reflect the sun's rays, to building a green roof, to installing a solar array to generate electricity. Lithographix, a printing company, went for this last option and now has the first commercial solar array in Hawthorne, California.

It has a capacity of 650kW and is expected to provide Lithographix with about 30% of its energy needs. The solar panels are Schott ASE300s, selected for "durability and double glass encapsulation." The inverters are made by Solectria.

ThinkSolar, in cooperation with solar contractor Pacific Solar Energy, installed the array, apparently "on time and on budget."

Lithographix President Herb Zebrack remarked, "We are very pleased with the efficient installation, impressive results and our decision to go solar."

More companies with big commercial buildings in sunny parts of the world should follow suit. The initial capital investment is big, but after that, the sun's free.